Pitch changing device for stringed musical instruments



W. E. SMITH Oct. 3, 1950 PITCH CHANGING DEVICE FOR STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS Filed April 11., 1947 JHM-r1 fwn 5 t Mahan/nu, a

Patented Oct. 3, 1950 PITCH CHANGING DEVICE FOR STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS Walter E. Smith, Ventura., Calif. Application April 11, 1947, Serial No. 740,760

Claims.

o vide a device for changing the pitch of a string of a lute type musical instrument.

Another object is to provide a removable attachment for a convenient form of musical stringed instrument which is operable to change the pitch of a string thereof which is held in position solely by the tension of the string.

Another object is to provide a device of this type which is applicable to either a conventional type or Hawaiian type guitar.

A more particular object is to provide such a pitch changing device for a string of a guitar or a similar instrument which may be operated by the leg or knee of the musician while playing the instrument.

A further object is to provide a device of this type which may be readily installed and removed without marring or defacing the instrument and which is composed of relatively few parts economical to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages will appear hereinafter.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a top plan view of the guitar showing a preferred embodiment of my invention mounted in operative position thereupon.

Figure 2 is a side elevation thereof.

Figure 3 is a plan view of certain parts of my improved form of attachment illustrated on an enlarged scale.

Figure 4 is a sectional elevation taken substantially on the lines 4-4 as shown in Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of a box member employed in connection with my invention.

Figure 6 is a transverse sectional elevation taken substantially on the lines 6-6 as shown in Figure 1 and illustrating the string engaging element in its lower position.

Figure 7 is a View similar to Figure 6 illustrating the string engaging element in its upper position.

Referring to the drawings, the attachment embodying my invention is shown in connection with a conventional form of guitar, but it is recognized that other stringed instruments of the lute type also may be employed.

The guitar generally designated III is provided withthe usual sounding board I I, bridge I2, centrai opening I3, neck I4 and neck head I5.

The usual fret board I6 may be provided and at one end of this fret board is the usual nut I 1. A plurality of strings I8 extend from the tension bracket I9 over the bridge I2 and nut I'I and each of the strings I8 is connected to one of the tuning pins 20. The usual keys 2| having a worm and wheel connection with the pins 2l) are provided on the neck head I5.

In accordance with my invention I provide a box shaped member 22 which rests on the upper iiat surface `23 of the neck head I5 and lies against the side 24 of the nut II. This box shaped member 22 is provided with parallel sides 25 and 26 joined by an integral top wall `2'I. End members 28 and 29 are provided at opposite ends of the box member 22. 'Ihe end member 29 is triangular shaped as shown in Figure 5, deiining an opening 30 through which an actuating bar 3| is adapted to extend into the interior of the box member 2'2. A pinlike projection 32 is received in an opening 33 provided in the end member 28. The actuator bar 3| may be formed from a at strip material and is adapted to lie on the upper surface 23 of the neck head I5 within the box member 22.

A string engaging element 34 may be provided at a location directly below one of the strings I3at and this element 34 may take the form of a screw having a slot 35 in its head portion for reception of the string |8a. The screw 34 is threaded into a rockable element 36 and this element 36 is pivotally supported-on the base member 22 by means of the pivoted pin 31 (see Figure 4). When the actuator bar 3| is rotated about the axis of its projection 32 the actuator moves from the position illustrated in Figure 6 to the position illustrated in Figure '7, thereby moving the rockable element 36 and the screw 34 upwardly in pivotal motion about the pin 31 and thereby increasing the tension in the string |821. The extent of movement of rockable element 36 and string engaging screw 34 is limited by an adjustable screw element 38 which is threaded into the base member 22 and extends downwardly to contact the actuator bar 3|. This adjusting screw 38 acts as a stop to limit the pivotal movement of the actuator bar 3| in the direction to increase the tension in the string |821.

The actuator bar 3| is provided with a downwardly extending portion 39 which is pivotally connected to a weight 4l) having a central slot 4|. The weight 40 has a horizontally extending portion `42 which is adjustably connected to the operating lever 43 by means of the connection 44 and set screw 45. The pivot pin 46 connects the downwardly extending arm 39 to the weight 40 and the arm 39 extends within the slot 4|. The end 4'I of the slot 4I is engaged by the arm 39 `.to limit pivotal movement of the members 42 The connection piece 44 enables endwise adjustment to be made of the operating lever 43 with respect to the member 42.

In operation, the ange 48 is placed in position over the nut I`| in order to raise the position of the strings I8 away from the fret board IS. AThe flange may be grooved as shown at 49, if desired, to receive each of the strings I8 of the guitar. One of these grooves 492L is in alignment with the groove 35 in the string contacting screw element 34. Cutout slots 59 and 5| are provided in the ange 48 to receive the rockable element 3B and the adjusting screw 39 respectively. The position of the flange 48 as shown in Figure 3 is not its operative position on the instrument, but the ange 48 has been moved to the right to expose the base member 22 and its associated parts.

After the strings are placed in position over the ilange 48 and tuned by means of the tuning keys 2|, the actuator bar 3l is inserted into the base member 22 through the opening 30 adjacent the end member 29 and the projection 32 is inserted within the opening 33 in the end member 28.

The actuator bar 3l is turned about its pivot 32, thereby increasing the tension in the string 18B. The string is then plucked to determine its pitch with the tension increased. The adjustment screw 38 is turned until the desired pitch is obtained when the actuator bar 3| is moved to the end of its pivotal travel.

With the instrument supported on the lap of the musician the downwardly extending element 52 at the forward end of the lever 43 is in position to be contacted by the musicians knee. Movement of the knee towards the neck head l5 serves to pivot the lever 43 and arm 39 about the pivot pin 32 in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Figure 2, thereby moving the string contacting element 34 in a direction to increase the tension in the string 18a. With this arrangement certain chords not otherwise available may be played on the instrument. The pitch of the string 18a thus can be varied at the will of the musician without requiring the use of either hand and this is an important advantage since one hand may be engaged in plucking the strings while the other hand is used in manipulating a steel bar on the strings. It will be observed further that no springs are employed in connection with my invention and that the tension of the spring ISa itself is used to return the parts of the mechanism to their inoperative position. The pitch of the string la therefore remains true in either of the positions of the mechanism.

No screws, bolts, or other fastening devices are used to mount the attachment on the instrument and, therefore, defacement or marring of the instrument is avoided. The tension of the string the normal fashion. The attachment is universal in application in that it may be mounted on any guitar without special preparation. The knee operation of the actuator is an important feature since it is very simple in operation and 'f element, a base member, a rockable element pivotally mounted on the base member and'carrying said string engaging element, an actuator axially insertable into the base member, the actuator being rackable to engage one of said elements whereby the string engaging element may be moved in a direction to change the tension in the string, and means for turning the actuator.

2. A device for changing the pitch of a string of a musical instrument, such as a guitar, comprising a string engaging element, a generally rectangular base member having an opening at one end, a rockable element pivotally mounted on the -base member and carrying said string engaging element, a flat actuator strip insertable into the opening in the base member and adapted to engage the rockable element whereby the string engaging element may be moved in a direction to change the tension in the string, and means for turning the actuator.

3. In a device for'changing the pitch of a string of a musical instrument, such as a guitar, the combination of a base member resting against the instrument, a rockable element pivotally mounted on the base member, a string engaging element adjustably mounted on the rockable element, and an actuator pivotally associated with the base member and adapted to engage one of said elements whereby the string engaging element may be moved in a direction to change the tension in the string.

4. An attachment for a musical instrument having a string extending over a nut, comprising in combination: a base member resting on the instrument against one side of the nut, a string engaging element pivotally supported relative to the base member, the tension in the string acting against said element to maintain the base member in position against displacement, an actuator pivotally associated with the base member adapted to move the element in a direction to increase the tension in the string, and an adjustable element on the base member adapted to limit the extent of pivotal movement of the actuator.

5. In a device for changing the pitch of a string of a musical instrument, such as a guitar, the combination of: a base member resting against the instrument, a movable element, a string-engagingelement adjustably mounted on the movable element, means connecting the movable element with the base member for controlling the motion of the movable element with respect to the base member, the tension in the string acting against the string-engaging element to maintain the base member in position against displacement, and an actuator pivotally associated with the base member and adapted to engage one of said elements, whereby the string-engaging element may be moved in a direction to change the tension in the string.

WALTER E. SMITH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 974,095 Schlemmer Oct. 25, 1910 1,883,410 Ryan Oct. 18, 1932 1,924,854 Harmon Aug. 29, 1933 2,040,633 Schulz May 12, 1936 2,196,531 Larisch Apr. 9, 1940 2,323,969 Biederman July 13, 1943 

